How we source this

RecordsDirectory is an independent reference site. We are not a government agency, we don’t hold any records ourselves, and we can’t search, order or correct records for you. Every record is held by the official office we point to.

How we choose sources

• We link only to official sources: state, county, town and court websites, federal agencies, and the official licensing boards and their national associations (for example, the FSMB’s DocInfo and NCSBN’s Nursys).
• We don’t use commercial background-check or people-search sites, and the site has no affiliate or sponsored links.
• Where an office’s own page or state law says who holds a record, that is what we list. Where we couldn’t confirm a detail, the page says “Not published here” or “not verified” instead of guessing.
• Fees, eligibility and mailing addresses for vital records come from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics “Where to Write for Vital Records” pages, and each one is cited with its last-reviewed date.

How and when links are checked

• Before a link is added, we open it in a real browser to confirm it loads and is the right page (for example, an actual license look-up rather than an agency homepage). We keep a log of what we found each time.
• Links are re-checked when pages are rebuilt and whenever someone reports a problem. Each page’s date in our sitemap changes only when that page’s content actually changes.

Labels on records rows

• Search online: the official link goes to a public search or look-up tool.
• Request required: the official page explains how to order the record (online, by mail or in person); it can’t simply be searched.
• No label: check with the office. Access depends on the record and on who is asking.

Limitations

• Access to records, eligibility rules and fees vary by state, by county and by record type. They also change, so always confirm with the office before you pay or travel.
• Many records (for example, recent birth certificates and driving records) are restricted by law to the person named, close family or people with a permitted purpose.
• Office hours, addresses and online services change without notice. Population, income and other statistics come from the U.S. Census Bureau and may lag.
• Nothing on this site is legal advice, and it may not be used for FCRA purposes (credit, employment or tenant screening).

Corrections and broken links

If a link is broken, out of date or points to the wrong office, please tell us using the contact form. Include the page address and the link or detail that is wrong. We check every report against the official source before changing anything.